3 more bodies recovered from collapsed building

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Three more bodies have been recovered from the Victoria Street disaster site today, Friday 10 May, bringing the death toll to 12.

A total of 41 people of the 81 who were on the building site at the time of the implosion is still unaccounted for.

There are 3 patients in the George Provincial Hospital and 10 at the Mediclinic. The latter has admitted 18 patients since the disaster began unfolding on Monday 6 May. Five have been discharged and 3 passed away. Of the remaining 10 patients, three are in the ICU and one was to be airlifted today to Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.

At a media briefing this afternoon, Dr Wayne Smith, Western Cape head of disaster medicine, said both hospitals activated incident plans immediately following notification of the implosion.

"The majority of patients started going to George Provincial Hospital, where a lot of them were stabilised and moved across to Mediclinic for some of the definitive specialist interventions that were required.

"So at the moment 3 patients are still in the George Hospital. It's a very fluid system, so patients are moving as and when specialist services are required. It is not about private or public sector. The hospitals as a whole responded."

He said communication regarding the patients' condition is constantly communicated. There are a few complicated cases due to crush injuries which usually occur in an incident such as this.

Western Cape Disaster Management chief Colin Deiner said they had spoken to the developer earlier today and received information on where they could locate the missing people. It helped them find and retrieve the 3 bodies. The information they received, indicated that there are still people trapped on the first, second and third floor.

Identification of bodies

Frustration and agony among families waiting for news about their loved ones trapped in the rubble was an issue aired during the briefing.

Premier Alan Winde explained that the identification of bodies retrieved from the site is a difficult process that involves fingerprinting, DNA testing, and looking at photographs to match and place, among others.

Dr Smith said DNA identification will become increasingly important to bring closure for families.
Responding to a quesion about fears that delays in DNA testing could occur because of an existing testing backlog, Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile said the forensic lab is on standby for testing of disaster victims and the only delay that might occur would be where a match with family members is needed and they cannot be found.

Winde said the frustration of family members around their inability to communicate properly is also being addressed. Interpreters from consulates were expected to arrive today. If required, resources from the Premier's office are being used to find interpreters.

Ministers visit hospitals
Dr Joe Phaahla, National Health Minister, and Western Cape Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo were in George today to visit the site, the two hospitals and the mortuary where temporary additional space has been created.

Phaahla said the incident is regarded as a national disaster and pledged solidarity with the province. He expressed gratitude towards all who have been involved in the medical emergencies of the disaster since Monday.

"We are grateful that this hospital (Mediclinic George) rose to the occasion when they were approached for help." Routine operations were cancelled and management, staff and private doctors became involved.
The two ministers also met patients in the Mediclinic who are lying in general wards.

One patient was at a point where he was being discharged. He had been on the third floor of the imploded building on the outside, standing on scaffolding, when it came down. He had been dug out of the rubble in about an hour.

National Health Minister Joe Phaahla and Western Cape Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo with Mediclinic General Manager Kassie Karstens (left) and Nursing Manager Jeanita le Roux (right).